Have had a horrible couple of months fishing, felt like most of the time I was feeding carp than catching them. All I could muster was tench and none of any real size.

I spent sometime reading through Ed Betteridges blog on the website and decided spodding out crushed boilies was in order. I generally don't pile in bait as I've often felt putting in more than a kg can put weary carp off and spodding always looks a noisy method of baiting up, but after my poor run something had to change.

Went on a decent sized reservoir with a mate for the first time in 18 months. The normal spots were taken up on the lake, those nearest the dam wall, so I decided to move down the lake away from the traffic of anglers. I probably spodded in around 1-1.5 kg crushed Edge right from the outset, which hurt the first half of the day all I mustered was a large tench. At around 3-4pm the wind died down and the water went super still, all I could think was the carp have to start eating my bait soon, noone on the lake was catching so I didn't get too disheartened.

I've been using the Chod all year with mixed results, the year previously managed good numbers but no big fish (big for me is 20lb...) so went back to the old method, KD style with half a bottom bait and a White pop up, both in the Edge flavour.

I recast both rods just before the lake went still which ended up to be a good decision. Within 20 minutes I was hooked into a decent carp. All I was thinking is "a carp...finally after 2 months" I didn't care how big it was I was just happy to be carping again. 

As I got the fish towards the bank it dived hard to the floor with long wide tail flicks, I knew it was a good size by this time, little did I realise how big. As I got the net under her I could see that she was as wide as the net, unusual for me.....

I swooped the net under and was happy she was caught. As I opened the net I knew in an instant it was easily the biggest UK carp I've had, previously 22lbs pb.

As I lifted her to the mat I shouted over to my mate that I needed him to see what I'd caught. As soon as he got there we opened the net and knew in a instant looking at the scale patter who it was. Patch! The biggest common in the lake and at her peak 39lb.

I zero'd the scales and into the weight sling she went. As we lifted her the number stopped at 34lbs 8oz. Needless to say I had a grin on my face. A new PB and a top top carp. Couldn't have been happier with the result.